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Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by lionduke(m): 8:44pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has written a heartfelt letter to the world over the Ebola crisis that hit her country. In the letter which was read over the radio and transmitted worldwide, she likened the Ebola epidermic to the civil war her country faced 11 years ago which killed a lot of Liberians, crumbled their economy and vital institutions. The president called on the international community to stop all theoretical explanations on the Ebola crisis and act fast to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Find her letter after the cut... Dear World In just over six months, Ebola has managed to bring my country to a standstill. We have lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children struck down in the prime of their youth. Some were fathers, mothers, brothers or best friends. Many were brave health workers that risked their lives to save others, or simply offer victims comfort in their final moments. There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our civil war ended only eleven years ago. It destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed our economy and led to an exodus of educated professionals. A country that had some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the war was dependent by its end on barely three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was bouncing back. We realized there was a long way to go, but the future was looking bright. Now Ebola threatens to erase that hard work. Our economy was set to be larger and stronger this year, offering more jobs to Liberians and raising living standards. Ebola is not just a health crisis – across West Africa, a generation of young people risk being lost to an economic catastrophe as harvests are missed, markets are shut and borders are closed. The virus has been able to spread so rapidly because of the insufficient strength of the emergency, medical and military services that remain under-resourced and without the preparedness to confront such a challenge. This would have been the case whether the confrontation was with Ebola, another infectious disease, or a natural disaster. But one thing is clear. This is a fight in which the whole world has a stake. This disease respects no borders. The damage it is causing in West Africa, whether in public health, the economy or within communities – is already reverberating throughout the region and across the world. The international reaction to this crisis was initially inconsistent and lacking in clear direction or urgency. Now finally, the world has woken up. The community of nations has realized they cannot simply pull up the drawbridge and wish this situation away. This fight requires a commitment from every nation that has the capacity to help – whether that is with emergency funds, medical supplies or clinical expertise. I have every faith in our resilience as Liberians, and our capacity as global citizens, to face down this disease, beat it and rebuild. History has shown that when a people are at their darkest hour, humanity has an enviable ability to act with bravery, compassion and selflessness for the benefit of those most in need. From governments to international organisations, financial institutions to NGOs, politicians to ordinary people on the street in any corner of the world, we all have a stake in the battle against Ebola. It is the duty of all of us, as global citizens, to send a message that we will not leave millions of West Africans to fend for themselves against an enemy that they do not know, and against whom they have little defence. The time for talking or theorizing is over. Only concerted action will save my country, and our neighbours, from experiencing another national tragedy. The words of Henrik Ibsen have never been truer: “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed. Yours sincerely, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by madamoringo(f): 8:54pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
I am sure the world will do more to help. However it is important to ask what your national leadership and state level leadership have done since the war ended. What is your record on corruption? Or have you only been eating the spoil of high office not knowing or caring that the reason why some countries are ever so progressive is they never stop working and preparing for a difficult time for their people such as an all out epidemic or economic downturn. What is your record since 2005?? |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by 1stdami(m): 9:01pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
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Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by anomsodi(m): 9:27pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
Make i BOOK space |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by ayox2003: 9:31pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
madamoringo: "The world" is reluctant to help because: 1) The cure has not been found: This makes it very risky for medical volunteers to leave their shores. As it stands, medical workers are more exposed to the virus as record shows. (RIP Dr. Adedevoh). The main reason for the reluctance President Sirleaf Johnson's administration is witnessing. 2) Skewed african orientation: Africans believe the "world" (western world) is their enemy. We've read on this forum where ignorant africans want Russia, a country that didn't donate as much as Nigeria in 2010, to defeat the US. For the records, Ethiopia gets 85% of its budget from foreign aids & grants and Russia doesn't donate a dime! So if your people think I'm your enemy, why would I not be reluctant? More ridiculous, some people believe Ebola was "developed" to kill the black race . Extremely skewed mentality! 3) The "world" is also fighting the scourge: Ebola has found its way into the US. It has also killed a priest and a nurse in Spain even after they took Zmapp. If US could swap 5 terrorists to save the life of a soldier, wouldn't they have saved the life of Duncan that died of Ebola if there was a tried and tested cure? Anyways, we've heard that the Cuban government is sending a team of doctors. Also the UK is gearing up to send medical aids inaddition to the $100m donated by the US. I hope it stalls the spread while the cure is being found. Frawzey |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by Sunofgod(m): 9:42pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
The woman needs to hurry up and resign - she's failed! |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by Smooyis(m): 9:48pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
I hope the Nigerian government will do everything within her capacity to continue to assist them in containing this ebola menace. We should not be tired of helping them. As their big brothers, it is our God given role! |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by lilprinze: 9:49pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
Am sure if it was 1 of the western countries that was hit by Ebola the way Liberia is hit they would have acted very fast. |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by Nobody: 10:13pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
If only liberia will agree and become Nigeria's 37th state, we will manage their Ebola crisis and it will be a thing of the past. |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by Rexnegro(m): 10:16pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
lilprinze:My Broda instead of condemning or comparing liberia,pls give her ideas to curb this deadly virus if u have any....even the western world u re talking , US is at risk of a larger outbreak, or Us no be western country....may God just intervene and help this world be it western ,northern, southern or eastern countries 1 Like |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by emmysoftyou: 10:24pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
i dont know what to say because my words cant help yu out. i wish i culd stop it or help yu out but i'm helpless. i feel ur pains,i feel what yu re passing thru i kip praying To God too and when i ask som pple,they mention endtime, but i dont belive it because my God wil strengthen you, my God wil save yu and your country men and women. Ebola or whatever you re call? Dismiss frm the land of liberia to liberate serra leone and guinea rightnow.amen.. enuff is enuff dos says the lord of host 1 Like |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by onoja12: 11:17pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
rubbish,African countries cant help because the woman is a white stooge and together they know the truth about the virus and how they try to spread it from there to other African countries,would you help somebody who is trying to kill her people and other just for cash,that is why we should be careful of this people who work in international organizations.same way Nigeria was making the highest profit,but yet our own Mrs Harvard was borrowing massively from world bank,and yet all organs of government have been crying for funds including the army,i was in a Nigerian embassy and i was made to understand that they haven't been paid for over 4 months,so please ask her where is all the money,where have they gone and why the heavy borrowing,definitely you would quickly conclude she isn't loyal to Nigeria but rather the world bank she came from ayox2003: |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by UnknownT: 11:27pm On Oct 19, 2014 |
Ehyah! Just promise the world that your citizens will stop exporting it too |
Re: Ebola: Liberia's President Writes Moving Letter To The World by ODIMEGWU2: 7:16am On Oct 20, 2014 |
lionduke:sorry but point of correction , Liberians , NOT West Africans ! |
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